Ile Saint-Jean

On this map, at the mouth of the Saint-François River, are written the names of the lords Crevier and La Fontaine Outaouais. The real name of the latter was Laurent Philippe. He was the first lord of the seigneury of Pierreville. The name Tardif must refer to Olivier LeTardif who was active in the fur trade within the Compagnie des Cent-Associés from 1640 to 1665. The channel at this location is named Chenal Tardif.

We have arrived at the “end of the parish”. Here, the slow flow of water from the Saint-François River has favored the creation of channels separating portions of the territory into islands. Between the main channel of the river and Baie Saint-François which is located about 2 kilometers further west, the Laverdure channel created Île Saint-Jean.

We go back to the beginnings of New France to find the first title deeds made to people of European origin on this portion of territory: 

'Before becoming the property of Jean Crevier, in 1673, the seigneury of Saint- François had belonged first to the Lauzon family (1635), then to Pierre Boucher (1662). Originally, it was included in the seigniory of La Citière granted to François de Lauzon on January 15, 1635.” (CHARLAND, 1942.)

Despite this succession of owners, the founding act serving as the starting point for the historical chronology is the acquisition of the seigniory by Jean Crevier in 1673.

Crevier was the first lord to live there and grant land to encourage its settlement. Moreover, even if his mansion was located on the other shore, it is undoubtedly in his honor that the island of Saint-Jean bears his first name.

One of the first concessionaires of Île Saint-Jean, Laurent Philippe, dit Lafontaine Outaouais, had succeeded in erecting many constructions on his land: dwelling house, bakery, shed, dairy, barn, chicken coop and stable. 

In 1683, the latter was granted the seigneury of Pierreville, located upstream from the seigneury of Saint-François.

Even if he made no establishment or concessions there, Laurent Philippe could now bear the title of lord. The prosperity that this individual seemed to enjoy probably explains why his name appears on old maps, next to the name of Crevier.

This small monument close of the cross at the entrance to the island is to recall the genesis of the seigniory before the establishment of Jean Crevier on this territory.

The settlement of the seigniory moved deeper and deeper upstream of the river, but Île Saint-Jean continued to be inhabited.

Until the 1960s and 70s, the island was made up of agricultural fields and the few families who lived there year-round cultivated their land and grazed their cows. 

Some families left their names to the places where they once lived, such as Île Landry, located in the western portion of Île Saint-Jean.

From the end of October until the end of May, Île Saint-Jean was difficult to access. 

Spring floods cut off the islanders from the mainland for days, if not weeks. Many came to take refuge with neighbors or friends on the other side of the channel while waiting for the water to go down. 

Some years, spring floods or even ice jams were spectacular to see and naturally marked the spirits. 

Many memories are perpetuated in the collective memory, including the photo of this small house surrounded by blocks of ice during the ice jam of 1928.

This spectacular ice jam marked the memories of residents of the Île Saint-Jean sector.

Île Saint-Jean was a recognized location for fishing and duck hunting. We found there a few cottages and fishermen's houses along the river. These were frequented by patrons of various hunting clubs and the nearby Abenakis Spring Hotel.

It is the work of priest Lucien Leblanc, parish priest from 1969 to 1990, which will change the landscape of the island into the one that can be seen today.

In 1970, Father Leblanc bought part of the land and had the Camp de l’Amitié built there. By doing this, he wanted to offer the residents of Saint-François-du-Lac and the surrounding area a community place of vacation, relaxation and friendship.

Many people remember the sung masses on Saturday summer evenings. 

The squadrons of mosquitoes forced the faithful to remain in their cars during the service, which created an astonishing spectacle: all one had to do was lower the window as the priest passed between the rows of cars to receive the Eucharist!

The various recreational, cultural and religious services have gradually attracted a number of residents to come and settle permanently on Île Saint-Jean. Curé Leblanc invests a great deal in allowing the friendship camp to flourish and prosper. This is where he settled after retiring.

The Leblanc bridge, inaugurated in August 1999, as well as the eponymous street which extends to the Camping de l'Amitié, commemorate the memory of this man who marked his time.

After crossing the Leblanc bridge which spans the Laverdure channel, you have arrived on the Île Saint-Jean. 

At this entrance to the island, a plaque, a wayside cross and a small monument stand in the middle of a floral arrangements to commemorate various historical elements: the seigniorial and religious past of the region as well as a character who shaped the current landscape of the place: the parish priest Lucien Leblanc, who died in 2013 at the age of 90.

Until the 1960s and 1970s, this portion of the island was made up of fields dedicated to feeding the surrounding farmers’ cattle. Facing the river, a few cottages and fishermen’s house stood. The landscape has evolved and nowadays, The Île Saint Jean is a popular and lively vacation spot during the summer season.

At the end of Leblanc Street: take a moment to contemplate the Saint-François River. On the opposite shore is the Pointe au Moulin which is today in the municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Pierreville. Formerly, the 2 shores were part of the territory of the seigneury and the parish of Saint-François-du-Lac until 1853, the year of its division.

It was on the Pointe au Moulin that was, rightly, the mill and the fort used to protect the seigniory.

Turning right, continue on Rang de l’île Saint-Jean. Local history tells us that at the beginning of the seigniory, there were 2 forts, 1 on each bank. 

The fort on the Île Saint-Jean would be the one that Antoine Planiol would have built on the property of his wife, widow of Laurent Philippe, said Lafontaine Outaouais. Antoine Planiol, a lieutenant in the Compagnies Franches de la Marine, had been appointed commander of the military fort of Saint-François, called «Fort Crevier». 

The «fort» on his property would rather have been a wooden palisade that he would have erected to protect certain buildings used in the fur trade.

The context of constant threats made by the powerful adversaries that were the Iroquois may have justified the construction of a palisade for defensive purposes.

CHARLAND, Thomas-M, O.P. Histoire de Saint-François-du-Lac, Ottawa, Collège Dominicain,1942.

HUDON-BEAUDET, Florence. Saint-François-du-Lac 1673-1998, Saint-François-du-Lac, 1999.

MORVAN-MAKER(MAHER), Florentine. Florentine raconte… Laffont Canada, 1980.

Photo Credits:

Map of the mouth of the Saint-François River, 1715: Détail de la carte de DESHAYES, Jean, FER, Nicolas de. De la Grande Rivière de Canada appellée par les Européens de St.Laurens, carte ancienne; 62 x 97 cm, Paris: chez N. de Fer, 1715, in BAnQ numérique.

Memorial monument: CHARETTE, Dominic, juillet 2022.

The house surrounded by ice blocks, 1928: HUDON-BEAUDET, Florence. Saint-François-du-Lac 1673-1998, Saint-François-du-Lac, 1999, page 63.